Mike VI's debut on hold

BATON ROUGE - Mike VI, LSU's live tiger mascot, will not make his first pre-game appearance in Tiger Stadium Saturday prior to the South Carolina game, school officials said Wednesday.

Mike's caretaker, Dr. David Baker, changed his mind citing the heat as the reason for putting the tiger's football game debut on hold.

"Dr. Baker thought it would be better to introduce him at a night game where it won't be so hot," LSU associate athletic director Herb Vincent said. "Hopefully the Florida game Oct. 6 will be a night game and we can do it then."

LSU was schduled to play South Carolina at 7 p.m. in Tiger Stadium but CBS announced Sunday it was going to pick up the game for a 2:34 p.m. kickoff.

Vincent said Baker has been happy with the progress Mike has made in adapting to life in his habitat on campus. He cut short the original two-week quarantine to one week and had Mike released into his habitat on Sept. 1. The 300-pound Siberian-Bengal tiger has reacted well to the crowds who have been by to see him.

"He's done great with people visiting his habitat," Vincent said."There's been no adverse reaction to the game day hoopla. He's ready for the big show."

Vincent said handlers have rehearsed getting Mike into and out of his trailer/cage and he even took a test run, riding around the field in Tiger Stadium Tuesday. Part of LSU's traditional pregame ceremonies is to have the tiger circle the field 30 minutes before kickoff.

Mike was donated to LSU by Great Cats of Indiana, a large animal rescue facility. He replaced Mike V who died of renal failure in May.